North Carolina State University Athletics
Senior Trio Lead Wolfpack into 1982-83 campaign
10/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 11, 1982
1982-83 Pre-season Outlook
The senior trio of Thurl Bailey, Sidney Lowe and Dereck Whittenburg should provide the Wolfpack a solid core as coach Jim Valvano, recognized as one of the nation's brightest young mentors, enters his third campaign at the State helm.
All three have been starters the past two seasons and also played extensively as freshmen.
Last year, Bailey, the silky-smooth 6-11 forward, and Whittenburg, a 6-1 long-range bomber, won second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in sparking the Wolfpack to a nifty 22-10 overall record and an NCAA Tournament berth with double-digit scoring power and fine defensive play.
Lowe, who was singled out for All-ACC laurels as a sophomore, will again direct the Wolfpack in his role as point guard, a position he has filled brilliantly the past two campaigns as evidenced by the school assist records he set for a season (184) and for a career (491).
"The key word for us is improvement," says Valvano, who has steered three of his last four clubs to the NCAA playoffs. "Our seniors give us a great foundation, but any improvement must come from a balanced inside and outside scoring attack along with continued strong defensive play.
"How effective we will be will depend on how well our young people and newcomers develop and how they fit in with the veterans."
Joining the trio of seasoned performers on the starting unit most probably will be 6-11 sophomore Cozell McQueen in the pivot and either 6-7 sophomore Lorenzo Charles or 6-7 junior college transfer Alvin Battle at power forward.
Others counted on for considerable playing time include 6-5 junior Harold Thompson and the sophomore threesome of 6-8 Dinky Proctor, 6-7 Mike Warren and 6-0 Terry Gannon.
In addition to Battle, a native North Carolinian who played at Merced College last season and was selected as California's JC Player-of-the-Year, incoming recruits include 6-4 Ernie Myers, a blue-chipper out of the Bronx, N.Y., 6-0 sharpshooter George McClain of Rocky Mount, N.C., and 6-6 forward Walt Densmore of Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Bailey, who has progressed by leaps and bounds each of his previous three seasons, led the Wolfpack in scoring last year with a 13.7 average and was the top rebounder with a 6.8 mark. He also finished among the Top 10 in four of the ACC's five major statistical categories, ranking ninth in points, fifth in board recoveries, fifth in field goal percentage at .548 and third in free-throw accuracy at .814.
An exceptional leaper, Whittenburg, the Pack's No. 2 scorer at 13.4, is expected to be even more productive this season with the new 3-point rule since nearly half of his successful field goals a year ago were launched from beyond the 20-foot span.
Lowe, perhaps the most consistent of the three seniors, should also benefit from the new rules that include a 30-second clock. A brilliant playmaker and pinpoint passer, the Washington (D.C.) youngster is at his best in a fast-tempoed game, as evidenced by his 184 assists tops in the ACC and No. 5 nationally when State was a running team his sophomore campaign.
The inside scoring punch that Valvano is seeking could come from the threesome of Battle, Charles and Proctor. Battle, who averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds at Merced JC, reputedly is exceptionally strong around the boards, while Charles demonstrated excellent strength in the late stages of last season. At 212 pounds, Proctor also has the muscles and quickness to be effective.
Myers, rated by all of the recruiting experts as among the Top 3 nationally in the freshman Class of 83, is expected to play a prominent role for the Wolfpack, as could McClain, a fine outside marksman.
Valvano's club this winter will be challenged by one of the nation's toughest schedules, including games against Notre Dame, Michigan State, Louisville, Missouri, West Virginia and Memphis State in addition to the always-tough Atlantic Coast Conference slate.
WOLFPACK AT A GLANCE
STARTERS RETURNING (3) Thurl Bailey, 6-11, F; Sidney Lowe, 6-0, G; Dereck Whittenburg, 6-1, G.
OTHER LETTERMEN RETURNING (7) Lorenzo Charles, 6-7, F; Terry Gannon, 6-0, G; Quinton Leonard, 6-8, F; Cozell McQueen, 6-11, C; Dinky Proctor, 6-8, F; Harold Thompson, 6-5, F; Mike Warren, 6-7, F.
LOSSES:Â
Starters (2) Chuck Nevitt, 7-5, C; Scott Parzych, 6-7, F.
Other lettermen (2) Max Perry, 6-1, G; Emmett lay, 6-4, F.
INCOMING FRESHMEN (3) Walt Densmore, 6-6, F; George McClain, 6-0, G; Ernie Myers, 6-4, G.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFERS (1) Alvin Battle, 6-7, F.
PROBABLE STARTERS Lowe, Whittenburg, Bailey, McQueen and either Charles or Battle.
STRENGTHS Exceptional floor leader in Lowe, fine perimeter shooting in Whittenburg, Gannon, Myers and McClain, and more overall experience and team speed.
SHORTCOMINGS Lack of proven inside scoring power and thin ranks at the center position.
ALL-STAR CANDIDATES Thurl Bailey, Sidney Lowe and Dereck Whittenburg.
